Electric signaling system.



W. H. GILMAN.

PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907.

BLBGTBIU SIGNALING SYSTEM.

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PATBNTBD Nov. 12, 1901.

. W. H. GILHAN.

ELECTRIC SIGNALI'NG SYSTEI.

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16.870,622 PATBNTBD Nov. 12, 1907.

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ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATIOI I'ILDD 00T. 31. 1006.

PATENTED NOV. 12', 1907. W. H. GILHAN.

'BLEGTRIO SIGNALING SYSTEM.

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-No. 870,622- PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907. W. H. GILHAN.

BLBcTnIc SIGNALING SYSTEM.

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/06 /05Y /06/1 u2 l I /20 ators go beyond hearing of their sounders, sometimes whereby the setting of a signal may give a warning or v'Urn-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD H. GILMAN, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO INTERNATIONAL TE'LEMETER COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA TERRITORY.

nnne'rarc SIGNALING sYsrnM.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Appllcatioulsd October 3 1. i906. Serial No. 341.428.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

To all whom it may concern: n l

Be it known that I, Wnmsnn H. Gilman, of Medford, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Electric Signaling Systems, oi which the following is a spcification.

This invention relates ro electric signaling systems, and especially to those in which signals may be actuated sek-eti vely at one of a plurality oi'stations. Such an organization is capable o many applications, one of themost important of which is in connection with the control of train or car movements by telegraph from a despatchers office. The train despatching system while much used and presenting marked advantages, is in its present form subject to serious defects.

To keep vtrains moving properly, orders must be' promptly received, and. this is dependent upon the. presence. of every operator at his station at the moment the despatchers office desires to reach him. In event of an operators unavoidable absence the despatcher should be able to establish communication at predetermined points along the line with the trains under his direction, or to give a warning thereto. Thn warning 'should be such that it cannot escape the enginers attention, and `the despatcher should have thu power to reserve to himself a control of the signals and should receive an accurate verification that his communications have reached the proper station and operated as intended. In train despatchng by telegraph none of these ends is at present attained. Operinthe performance oi legitimate duties, sometimes negligently, and arriving trains are blocked by the absence of orders, or venture ahead with disastrous results, and oven when signals are set against engineers, they' fail to see them. .All operators possess, with the despatcher, equal control of the line and all apparatus actuated thereover, thus permitting such apparatus to .be governed by irresponsible persons.

The principal objects of m'y invention are to obviate these .difficulties and` to provide a simple and reliable system by which different signals -nmy be controlledovor a single line circuit to individually warn, for example, operators and engineers, and by which the train despatcher or other authorized sender may solely exercise this control and may receive at will a Vreturn signal indicating the successful performance oi the selective operation. This system is so organized' that it may be quicldy applied to a line without modification of the existing apparatus. A further object of the invention is to provide means perform some otheract directly upon the train signaled and also render it possible for persons not operators to l'receive directions from a distant station and thereto.

to respond 'primary controlling mechanism'situated at each station. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail showing the step-bystep actuating mechanism thereof. Fig. 7 is a similar view foi the disk, rotatable contact and dial. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of a second pair of contacts. Fig. 9 is a detail in side elevation of the locking mechanism. Ig. 10 is a top plan view oi the secondary. controlling mechanism. :Fig 11 is a side elevation thereof. 12 is a. transverse sectional detail taken adjacent to the contacts of the audible signal circuit. Fig. 13 shows the contacts of the visible signal circuit and more closely associated elements in elevation. Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the return signal mechanism. Fig. 15 is a side elevation thereof. Fig` 18 is a perspective view of a portion of` the detent. view of another portion of said detent and ating iiy of the clock work.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1,l 2 and 3 the numeral 20 designates a main line or conducting circuit which the coper- -may be grounded at its extremities, but which, in the present instance, is shown as a full metallic circuit including s return conductor 21. This line connects a plurality of stations, 'there being three here shown and. designated by the characters A B C. The system is ari ranged for telegraphic transmission, and particularly for the control of train orcar movements from the de spatchers oflice, which is at th'e station A, there being here a battery 22 or other source of electrical energy connected in series with the limb 20 oi the line. Each 'station is provided with the usual key or transmitting means 23 which in its inactive position is open, the cir- Fig.'17 is asimilar cuit being kept normally closed by a switch. 24. In

the line at each station is also the winding of the customary neutral relay 25, having an armature 26which closes upon its iront contact 27 a local circuit 28. Each local circuit includes a sounder 29, a battery, 30 and the winding of a primary signal-controlling apparatus S which I prefer to term a teleineter.

Oneembodiment of vthe apparatus S is illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive. Here a base 31'has mounted' upon it anclectro-magnet 32, the coils of which are connected in the circuit 28, and cooperating with this magnet is an armature 33 carried by a lever 34. Tliis lever is trunnioned upon a yoke or doublastandaid 35 veniently carried by the standard 41, is a disk or plate ltruments S are all situated in different circumferenbrushes, which occupy the same initial positions at allof stations are succeively made. Carried upon the Vcircuit 57 provided with a battery58 and containing .I line stations and 'thus indi Y80 When the armature isattrac'ted by the magnet, its prof by a spring 63 into the path of a regulating vane or fly rising from the base, and is forced upwardly by a spring 36 which brings the lover into contact with its back stop 36". An adjusting screw 37, having its inner end coacting with the spring, allows the tension o'f the latter to be varied. Pivoted upon the outer end of the armature lever is a pawl 38 which is forced by a spring 39 against the teeth of a ratchet wheel 40 fast upon a spindle 40, this being joumaled in a standard 41 fixed to the base and in the back stop standard. l'Secured to or formed upon the spindle is a collar 42 having projecting from it a spring contact brush or flexible incinber'43. Supported adjacent to this brush, it being con- 44 preferably of insulating material. Near th'o pcriphery of the disk is mounted a contact pin 46 which is of such length that it projects into the path of thc outer end of 'the brush 43. The contact pins of the intial positions about the disks at the various stations so that the angular distances between them and the stations, vare different, that the contacts of the and these pins are so arranged brushes therewith at the series extremity of the spindle 40 is a' hand or lpointer 47 which corresponds in angular position to the associated brush and which'movesover a dial 48 having about its periphery a series of numerals'q eprresponding to the ting ...which contact' p'in thereof'has been reached.

Situated adjacent to 'thel le'ver 34, mounted upon the back stop standard but insulated therefrom' byla blo'ck 48, is a contact spring 49 having .an inclined en'd portion 50 with which cooperates a ,'stud 51* projecting from the end 'of the lever. Upon conveniently stop when the operating st ud the opposite side of the block is a companion contact spring, 51. Secured to the opposite extremity of the thereto upon the bass of the telemeter is mounted an electromagnet 58, the armature 54 of which il retracted by its supporting spring 55 to bring a stop projection l 56 rising from its free end into the path of the arm 52.

jection 56 isJIithdrawn from coaction with the stop arm, leaving the spindle and the brush 43 freetp rotate.' These elements constitute a locking mechanism for th'e controlling apparatus.

:The conductive relation of the elements of the controlling apparatus S will be clear from a consideration of an'y one of the diagrams in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 It will be seen that the coils of the magnet 32 are in the local circuit 28, as previously stated, while the pairs of contacts 43, 46 and 49,51 are in series'inia second localthe winding of an electro-magnet 59 trolling mechanism S.

The secondary portion of the controlling mechanism is more particularly illustrated in Figs. l0 to 13, incluisive. The magnet 59 is mounted upon a bhse 60and has an amature 61v fromfwhich extends'an arm 62 which is moved upon the retraction of the armature of a secondary con- 64 of motor mechanism, helfe shown as a clock work with portions of the train omitted, and including n spring 65 having its spindle 66 provided with a finger l picec 67 at the front of thc buse.' its force to turn thc fly ngninst thc extension (i2, and when the latter is withdrawn by thc nnnuture to rotntc it" at a prmlctcrinim-d nite. ik contact controlling device in the forni of :ru insulating disk (i8 is fastened upon the spindle between the clock work and the linger piece. Situated in proximity to the disk ure two sets of contact springs, cach nrrnngcd in lwo pairs, one set including pairs (i9 70 und 7| 72, und the other comprising the pairs 73 74 und 75 76. The springs 69 und 7l aro sepamtcd by insulating material 77 und thcso pairs are brought into coaction by a cam projection 78 extending along the circumference of the disk 68 at the front {..co und pressing against the inner spring 70. (kuuact between the pairs 73 74 and 75 76 is effected by a stud 79 (intending radially from the disk and wedging between the springs 73 und 76. In the present form of apparatus the contact springs and their operating cam and stud bear such a relation to one another that cooperation between the first set will occur after about one-quarter of a rotation of'the disk following the release of the clock work. This will continuo for, say, another quarter of a rotation and finally the pairs of the last set will be brought together as the disk approaches the end otits tavel, it-coming to a positive is between the springs,

This spring exerts by a lateral projection 80 which strikes a relatively i fixed projection 81, here illustrated as carried by the frame of tho clock wo'rk.

Reference again being had to Figs. 1 to 3, in which the contacts of the secondary controlling apparatus are represented by .their termini, contacts 69,70 serve to clois a local circuit 82 including an electrically operated bell or audible signal 83 and fed,from.,a 'section of the battery 30. Contacts 73 74 control s local circuit 84 in which is an electrically'actuated mechanism con j sisting of some convenient type of semaphore or' other visual signal 85 and a battery 86. The contacts' 71,76 are multiplied together and connected by a conductor 87 to a portion of thc circuit 57, us placinglupon them a potential from one side of thmbattery 58'. From the opposite side of thelbatterya conductor 88 leads to an ios armature 89 of a polarized relay 90, the windingl 91 of.

which is included in the-lineconductor 20. One terminal 92 of the `relay 90 is connected by a conductor- 93 through the winding of the magnet 53 of the-locking l mechanism of the primary controller back to the circuit 57 of the battery 58. Th'e opposite terminal 94. of the polarized relay is joined by a conductor 95- with the multiplied ontacts72 andl 7 5 of the secondary controlling mechanism. The conductor 95 passes through the winding of an electro-magnet 96 fonning-a part of return-signal mechanism R. 4

Reference being had to Figs. 14 to 17,'inclusivc, for the details of the apparatus R the 'numeral 96'l designates a base supporting 'the electro-magnet 96 and a motor mechanism conveniently furnished by clock work 97, different ports of which are hero illustrated,

which includes n'upring 98, a fly 09 and an intermediate spindle 100. Fast upon the spindle is a .disk 101 provided with a series of peripheral'depressions separated byprojections 102. 'lhc odge of the disk and the projections maintain coperntion between n spring contact member 103 and n contact anvil 104, but when the Adepressions pass over the spring it is permitted sroaa Y to Ihre the anxgil. The rotation of the 'disk 101 is controlled by an escapement which may comprise a pair otuds 105 106 projecting from the front and rear A pl'pvided s. one-extremity with a slot 110 to receive,

'ofthe disk, respectively, and a cooperating compound detsnt 107. This detent has a main portion 108 pivotsdupon a bracket 109 to move horizontally, and

.the reduced extremity 111 ofthe amature 112 of mag- 'nst 96. The armature, when released by the magnet,

'l retracted to swing the detent to the. position shown in Fig. 14 by a spring 113 connecting an angular exi .tension 114 from the amature to an adjusting screw extremity 121 which ma'y engage-the ily 99. A sprihg 122 fastened to some stationary portion'of the instruf. detsnt is swung outwardly, carrying the arm 118 froml ment contacts with the arm 120 near its outer end and exerts its tension to tilt the portion 117 back'to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15 when-disenglged by the studs. The downward movement of the 'datent portion 117 is here shown as limited 'by the'contact of'its arm 118 with an extension 123 from the portion 108. When .the armature of the return-signal mechanism is in its normally retracted'position, the lhook 121 engags the fly, and the stud 105 rests upon .the arm118, and the disk occupies the position indicated in Fig. 15 oi the drawings, the unbroken portion of .its periphery holding the spring 103 upon .the anvil. When the magnet 96 attracts its armature, the

.beneath the stud 105 freeing the disk. This leaves or. portion -111 ofthe'dewm at liberty to banned.

by the action of the spring 122 releasing the ily. '0n account' of the point of engagement of these 1ast-named elements the spring 'acts upon a lever of considerable the force with which the studs are pressed against said` length and readily overcomes the frictional resistance to disengagement. The disk is then rotated by the 4clock work to advancethedepressions in its rim over the 103. After the depressions hsye passed the spring, the stud 106 reaches the arm 119 which now lies in its path pressing it down andcausing the hook 121 to again engaget the y slowing the clock work. The ldisk oontinuesto rotate for a short distance or the arm 118 contacts with the extension 123 when the entire returnfsignal mechanism is brought to s stop. Upon the retraction oi the armature, the

-disk is agnin-released and turns through a small angle er until engagement is effected between the stud 105 and the arm 118, the action being similar to that just described. The mechanism is now ready to send a second answerbackl Attention is called to the fact that upon the arrest of the clock work by the datent ior either movement oi the armature, the operation is inaugurated by the conjoint action oi thc-arm 122and the dy, and the mechanism is thus gradually slowed down until it is brought to a positive stop by the contact of one oi the studs with its arm; This diminishes 5 arms, and renders the releasing movement of the de` trolling mechanism are closed! tent therefrom easier. Ther return-signal mechanism also has in addition to the members 103 and 104 a pair of contacts comprising a spring 124 and an anvil 125 mounted upon an insulating standard 126 'rising from the base. As the apparatus is normally positioned, or when the stud 105 rests upon the detent, these contacts are separated by the action of the spring member, but afterthe disk 101 has completed its signal and the stud 106 engages the detent the contacts 124 and 125 aregbrought together by a cam 127 rotatable with the spindle 100, 'and there maintained until the detent releases the stud 106 to allow' the elements to assume their initial ,position`s, whereupon the cam allows the contacts to' ahruptly open. The relation o both pairs :of contacts'oi th' return-signal mechanism to th'e circuit appears in the diagrams. The signaling couple is inserted'fin -the conductor 20, and in consequence the spring l103 when it rises from the anvil, breaks the ,lineand sends thereover a code signal governed by the. length and spacing of the depressions, while the companion pair .are included in a conductor 128 extending from the armature 89 of a polarized relay to the'conductor 95 between the terminal 94 and the winding of the return-signal mag-net 96. This insures a flow of current through said magnet, while the disk-101 is in the psition previously indicated, irrespective of which terminal the armature 89 is in contact with.

' In Fig. 4 o the drawings is best shown the elements of the system which establish direct connection with a train or car. The'numeral 129 designatethe track rails and 130 aportion of a locomotive' carried thereon. Carried at each side of the locomotive is a briish or shoe 131 adapted to slide over contact 'rails 132 located inside the 'track rails and pseferablyxtending for some distance upon-opposite sides of each semaphore 85 The contact rails are-preferably higher than the track rails to avoid interference of the brushes with frogs and switches. These rails 132 are bridged across the semaphone circuit 84 by conductors 133, they being so connected that potential is put upon them bythe battery 86 only whenthe contacts 73 i4 ofthe secondary con- Uponthe locomotive this bridge circuit is continued by a conductor 134 passing through the winding'oi a magnet 135 which may be carried in the cab. Associated with this magnet is an armature 136 normally retracted by a spring 137. A lever 138 forced against the annature by a spring 139 is tripped when the amature is attracted. and closes by s contact '140 a local circuit 141, in the presentinstance including a. battery 142 and a signal bell' 143.

Assuming that the system here shown is to be utilized for train despatching and that the despatchers office' is station A, this has been illustrated as equipped with my complete apparatus, although this might not be necessary or desirable. 1t has in addition 'a polechanging switch 144, by wliich the connection'of the main battery l22 with the line may be reversed at will. l For' the ordinary transmissionA of messages, the despatcher or any operator may break the line athis switch 24 and thenby means of the key .23 set up eurrent impulses forming the character or chsractersdistinguishing the particular station wit which 'he'desixes to communicats. ,In this embod' ent of my in- 'vention these current impulses are generated by the 'las position from that illustrated and the armature ol' the polarized relay. engages the stop 94 so that th circuit 93 oi magnet 53 is open and the primary signal-controlling mechanism of the telemetr is locked by the re- .tracted armature. The return-signal mechanism is inactive. for although the contact at 94 is closed, the-cir ,cuit of the magnet 96 is openat both pairs ofcontacts 7172 and 75 76. The release of the vlocking mechanism lies wholly with the train despatcher through the manipulation of the pole-changer. Suppose now the operator which it is desired to reach fails to respond to the call, the despatcher' closing his switch 24 throws the pole-changer to the point shown in Fig. 1, altering the polarity of the battery with respect to the line and bringing the armaturesof all polarized relays therein upon theterininals 92. This completes the circuits,

` including conductora 57 88 and 93 through the magnets 53 and current flows from the batteries 58 attracting .the annatures and unlocking the telerneters.v The switch 24 is now again opened and the key 23 depressed. Upon each closure of the line circuit by the ksy,"svery telemeter lever is drawn down, as each magnet'32 is actuated by current from the battery 30 over 'the circuit 28 and 2cmtrolled by its neutral relay 2,5, and its'pawl advances the associated brush 43 to a point opposite the succeeding numeral oi the dial 48,. At one of the stations, provided there'are as many upon theline as there are dial divisions, this will bring the brush into contact with its pin-46. At this time the pressurel of the stud 51 is removed from the contact spring 49 so that this is .permitted to separate from its companion contact, thus opening the local circuit-57, and consequentlyno current flous therethrough. Thus the inactive condition of the apparatus is maintained during the normal closure ot the line. Upon the upstroke, however, theelernentsfal and 46 are left in contact, while 49 and 51 are now pressed together by ythe stud 5l. This would result in a passage vof current from the battery 58 through the magnet 59 oi the secondar'y controlling mechanism which would' attract the armature 61 were it not for the fact that the intervals between the impulses are so short that the self induction oi the winding of magnet 59 .and the reluctance of its cores are Inot sufficiently overcome before the circuit 28 is again closed. resulting'in the opening of the circuit 57, as previously indicated. lAs a consequence the armature extension 62 lis not withdrawn from the fly 64 of the clock work, and the associated signals are not operated: This effect of electro-magnetic inertia may also be aided by the proper adjustment of the tension of the springs oi the telemeters. When the despatcher sees that the hand of his telemeter points to the hand of the. station'with which communication is wished, since all 'thd hands of the system are moved in synchronism by their actuating mechanisms he knows that the brush 43 and the pin 46 at said station are in contact. He riowallowshis key to remain open for a greater interval. This ti'me ch'ange in the character of smsen theimpulses is such-t/hat'current from the battery 58 flows lon'g enough through the'magnet 59 to Withdraw the armature extension 62 from the fly. This leaves the motor means free to act, advancing the disk 68 at some predetermined speed, say, at the Irate of 00 seconds fora complete revolution. The sending operator therefore knows that he 'has only to leave the line open, say, 45

'seconds for the cam projection 78 to have passed over nie waaier oa 7o and 71 12, and the said 79 to have reached the contacts 73 74'and 75 76. .After an interval of 15 seconds the first-named contacts willbe made and during the following 15 seconds, in which the cam proje'ction is traversing them, the circuit 82 will be closed, and the hell-83 will ring to indicate to the operator that his presence is required at the instrument. If he is within hearing of this audible signal the operator can respond by breaking thecircuit at his switch to notify the despatcher oi his presence, *and setting back the secondary controlling mechanism to its initial position by .the finger piece 67, thus stopping the bell and also preparing the apparatus for another call.

lt should be noted that as the secondary controlling mechanism is arranged, even if the character of the message transmittingV impulses is such as to cause the magnet 59 to bq sufliciently energized to release the clock work of the secondary controlling mechanism so that its contact actuating devices will be slightly advanccd, this .will not cause the sounding oi the signal bell on account of the distance through which the cam must move to reach the contacts 69 70., The operator seeing any intermittent forward travel ,will returnthe .disk to its nornial position. That this advance should be considerable is impossible since to cause it to occur at any-particular station the increased intervals of closure of .the circ i' 28 through the manipulation of the despatchers key must take place when the brushes 43 sre at the'same angle, this representing but aq slight portion of their total time' of revolution. The crawling oi the contact mechanism, 'if it exists, is in this manner distributed among the apparatus at all the stations and therefore minimized. I

In event of the called operator not answering the despatcher may determine whether the system is operating properly and that it has given the signal at thel desired station. To do this during the time that the signal contacts 69 and 70 are closed, sains che poiehimger io'ii iniiiii'l ferring the armature of the polarized relay 'to the terminal 94. Now lthe contacts 71 72 arel alwiiys closed with their. companion contacts,P and a circuit is complc-ted for the battery 58 and rctum-signal magnet 96, including conductors 57 88 and 95 so that the armature 112 of the magnet is attracted and the detent operated to release the clock work and disk 101. The depressions in thc disk allow the spring 103 to open the line, sending back to the dcspatcher the codo signal of thc stationwith which it is associated. The reversal of the pole-changer will restore'the detent to its first the despatcher position, trans.

position', and prepare the mechanism for another antelemeters from synchronism or for any other reason he has signaled the wrong station, the dcspatcher has only to operate his key 23 for a sumcient time to insure all the arms 52 of the teiemeters reaching the locking pxojections 56 which are now raised. It will then be that the instruments are all at zero and therefore in'step, and the signaling operation may be repeatekl as just described. If the called operatordoes not turn back the disk 68 it continues to advance until the projection 81 arrests it. Then the stud 79 will close the contacts 73 74 completing the semaphore circuit 84 and setting said semaphore to arrest or control train movements Upon approaching the signal set against it, a train will rc'ceive'curront from the battery 86 through the sections oi contact rails 132 and its own shoes 131, this being dependent upon the closure of the semaphore circuit by the contacts 73 74. This com` pletes the local train circuit 141 and gives the engineer a warning which will continue until he has reset the tripped contact mechanism arid which cannot be well overlooked. Obviously this train circuit can be ap plied to the performing of otber'operations, such as au-l tomaticallf shutting oi the power or applying the brakes by means of asuitnble electro-magnetic mechanism substituted for the bell. In the same manner as described in connection with the opcrators audible, the closing of the contacts 75 76 simultaneously with the semaphore contacts 73 74 will establish the same return-signal circuit and the verifying answerback similarly transmitted. It may happen that while the despatchers ofice has either the audible or visible signal nt one station in operation, it will become necessary` to similarly signal another station. In shifting the pole-changer t6 get the return signal for this second station the despatcher would again release the mechanism of the first station by the movement of its polarized relay, o hd a jumble oi signals would result were it not for the path maintained for current by the contacts 124 125 independently of the terminal 94, while the secondary controlling mechanism is in its signal actuating` position. 'lhis retains the armature 112 attracted and no answer-back can be sent by any previously operated station mechanism which is in controlof its signals until the return-signal circuit has been opened in its contacts 71 72 or 75 76. Then the consequent movement of its detent causes the cam 127 to open the guard conductor 128.

It will therefore be seen that without extra lines and without materially complicating the system or disturbing the standard apparatus already in use a means is supplied for enabling the desputehers office exclusively to call a distant oil inattentive operator, or this failing to perform signaling operations which will pre` vent his absence from resulting in uncontrolled and perhaps dissslrous train movmnents, and iurihcrmore the d espatchcr can always vcril'y the corrcctnessof the operations, and if these are found to be at fault can promptly bring the system into proper action. In addition my system furnishes a means ior communication between the dcspatcher's ol'lico and employees who are not telegraph openitors, as, for instance, train conductors The apparatus peculiar to a station may be set up in a polobox or :my other convenient shelter by a siding and truins stopped by the associated sorpaphorc. Tlicn thc crew muy signal their presence by the return-signal mechanism und receive orders by noting the position of the. telnnwtcr houd at certain numerals upon its dial in accord-.nice with a definite code.

yThese orders, being received they may be acknowledged by another answer-back signal.

While I have described a particular form and application of my system it will bc'clenr that these may be varied widely without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A signaling system, comprising a conducting circuit, menus hir transmitting current impulses oi' different charncter over the circuit, and signal-controlling apparitus.

operable only by certnin oi the impulses nnd including primary und secondary rotatable contact mechanisms.

2. A signaling system, comprising a conducting circuit. means tortransmitting current impulses ot'4 dlierent length over -the circuit. and signal-controlling mechanism operable only by the longer of the impulses.

3. The combination with a main circuit, of transmitting means, n locaisignai'controlling circuit, electro-magnetic mechanism associated with the muin circuit and ha'ving a movable actuating member, nml a rotatable contact member controlling the iocul circuit, said local circuit being closed upon one movement of the actuating member and opening on its reverse movement.

4. The combination with n nmln circuit, ot transmitting menus, n locni signal-controlling circuit, electro-magnetic mechanism associated with the main circuit und having s. movable actuating member und n plurality ot pairs of contact members Included in-the local circuit, said local cir-' cuit being closed at one pnlr ol' contacts for each movement ol' the actuating member und nt another pair of contacts 95 only for certain of such movements.

5. A signaling system comprising l. conducting circuit, means for transmitting current impulses of dliferent length over theclrcuit, primary controlling mechanism associated with said circuit, secondary controlling mechanism under the influence of the primar-v controlling mechanism and being controlled only by the longer of the impulses, and l. signal operable by the secondary controlling mechanism.

fi. Tile combination with n conducting circuit, ot transmitting' means, primary controlling mechanism operable 105 b v the transmitting menus, `:etondnry controlling mechanism provided with motor menus which muy l released by the primary controlling mechanism, und a. signal operable by the truvel oi' the secondary controlling mechanism.

7, The combination with u conducting circuitof transmittlng means, primary controlling mechanism operable hy the trnnsmitting menus. secondary controlling mechanism under the influence ot the prlmnry controlling mechanism, und audible and visual signals successively operated by the controlling mechanism. I

8. The combination with n conducting circuit, of transmliting means. controlling mechanism under .the influence of th transmitting means und having u traveling contuct member, a signal governed by the controlling mechanism during the travel of said contact, nml n second signni operable nt the end of its travel.

i). The combination with n conducting circuit, of transmitting means, controlling mechanism under the iniiuence of the transmitting menus und having a traveling contact operating member und two relatively fixed contact devices,

one 'of said ilxed contact devices being operable for a. considerable time by the traveling member und the other o( which lswsituatcd at the terminution oi' travel of the contuot operating member, an audible signal operated hy the. coaction of the first-named contact device and the traveling member, and a visual signal operable by the arrivni o! the traveling member at the iermlnul contact device.

10. A signaling system comprising a main line, current transmitting means included therein, electro-magnetic mechanism associated with the main line, o. traveling and u relatively .iixed contact member, the latter being advanced by the electro-magnetic mechanism, a local circuit including sold contacts, und rotatable alcuni-controlling mechanism connected ln the locul circuit.

11. A signaling system comprising u main line, current transmitting means included therein, electromagnetic mechanism associated with the main line, n traveling and n relatively liked 'Contact member, the latter being ldvanced by the electro-magnetic mechanism, a local 'circuit including said contacta, and slgnai-controillng mechanism lit. A signaling iiyatein comprising a inalniiine provided with a plurality ot stations, signal-controlling mechmiiion at each station, a'lock for each of the controlling int-chaninmii. and means situated at one ol' the stations for releasing the locks, mid meaux heingnctnnteii over thc antiliporlion of tite main iliie an in the idgiuii-controlllng` niccli 4auhtni, iiut by s. current ot' different poiiirity.

14. A`si|nialing system comprising n conducting circuit. meana for transmitting current impulsen over the circuit. digital-controlling mechanism and a locking niechnnhim therefor associated with the conducting circuit, ineiina for varying the character ot the impulsen in one way to operlic tite locking mcciuinlnni, aiid in another way to operate the signal-controlling mechanism.

15. A signaling s i'xtcni comprising a ctmdncting circuit. nieana for transmitting current impulses over the cli-cuit. signal-controlling mechanism and n locking mechanism therefor aioiorhttcd with the conducting circuit, menno for varying tha direction of current in tite circuit to operate the locking mechanism, and menno for varying the strength et the current tor operating the signal-controlling mechan lain.

lil. The combination with n conducting circuit. ot a aourcc of electrical energy and aignai-coiitrolling niechnnlaut included therein. an electro-niagiiciic lock for the signahcontrolllngnihanliim, and incanti for reveriug tinI polarity ot the source ot electrical energy to operate the ioclt.

l?. A signaling nyntein comprising a line circuit, n lociii circuit, signal-controlling meclntniiiiu imsoclnted with the local circuit. locking me'aiis tor the signal-controlling mechanism, and n relay having itii .wliiding included in the line circuit, nud its contacts included in the local clrciiit with the'loclting means.

18. A signaling system comprising a line circuit. incliniing a source ot' electricalcncrgy.-a guile-changer and a circuit brenker. it local circuit, a. signal-controlling uleclniniam associated with the local circuit and being opernbleiiy the circuit breaken'and n {mlnrixcd relay having its winding included in ilie line circtilt nud itii'contnciii in the local circuit, with the locking incanti and being rosponxive .to the pole-changer to govern the locking nieclianhim.

lil. The combination with n conductlng'clraiiit. ot iriiiiiimitting lucana. primary coiitrolllng inccluinlxni operable liy the transmitting ineana, secondary controlling niecli'iiiiimn under the lnilucncc of the primary controlling inecliniiimn, n signal operable iiytlie'aecondnry controlling mechanism, and an electro-magnetic lock for the primary controlling mechanism.

20. The lcombination willi n conducting circuit. oi' transmitting mcunii. primary controlling niccloiiiiain opcrolilc by the transmitting incanti, rotatnliic iiccoiiiiiiry conti-oiiing mtclianiiuu provided willi niotor moans und lit-lng antler the intiucncc of tlic primary controiliiig mechanism. a itlgtiiii operable hy thc secondary controlling mechanism, an automatic rciurii-xignnl ini-cliiiniioii govcrncd h v thc secondary controlling nicciinnlsiii during itx rotation.

2i. The combination witii a conducting circuit, of transmitting means, primary controlling mechanism opcrnlih` by the transmitting` nicumi, secondary controlling mech animi under the intiuence ot the primary' controlling mechanism and having a traveling mcmlwr, ii signal opor able by the secondary controlling mechanism. and un automatic return-signal mechanism operable by thc` sceondary controlling mechanism at a plurality of points in its travel.

22. The combination with s condactluglch-cuit, untrans- 'aroma mitting moana. controlllng'mechnnlam under tht` influence of the traniiinittlug'|neans, `audible and visual signals successively opcriiiilc hy ilit` controlling mechanism. and retnrnoiigni'l mechanism automatically operable by the opt-ration ot Iiotli thi nutlllilc nnd vlsiinl signals.

'.'IL The combination with n conducting circuit, of tranninitting nieiins. controlling nicciuinhim under thc influence of the tilmiitniitlng nit-ons. uudiiilc und visual signals siicccitxivcly opcrnlilc hy tin` controlling inechnnlsni, and return-signal mechanism automatically opcrnlilo by the operation of holli tlic nudihle and visual signals and govornod liy the controlling mechanism.

24. 'ilic coiiililniitioii with a conducting circuit, ol.' aigiml-coiiti-olllng iiic\-iiiiiii.-oii, n rcturn-xlgnai mechanism govt-ruud hy' thi` controlling nicclizinism. and independent niciitix ior :.'o\'i.rniug thc return-signal mechanism.

..i. 'ihe combination ivlth a conducting circuit, ot sigiini controlling mechanism. n return-signal mecl'ianhim gort-ritmi iiy thc controlling iucclinniiiin, independent iiicnim for govt-ruhig llic return-signal mcclinnlxtn. and

26. 'i`iic cotuhinnlloii with ii conducting circuit, o! aigiiiti controlling niccliiiiiism. u rcluriuslgnnl mechanism governi-d hy thc controlling mechanism, independent inclina for governing tht rctiirii-nigniii mechanism, and iiiciiioi imnocliitcd willi thc'rciurirsigiiiil mcchanlntn for ntililfying the clicct or liu` lio i-n.iiiicd governing nicnas during ilu opcrntiou of tint` lgunl hy the controlling.:` .iuvclinnisnu .37. xigiiiiiiug s viiiciii coniprlitln'.r n conducting circuit. signal-controlling niccliniiiion. ii loclt therefor, a ret'nrn-xlgnnl niccluinhun, und nicitnit coniiiioii to both for govcrniitg the lock und rl-inili-nlglml incclinulion.

EN. .i ulgnnllni'.r iiyittciii comprising a line circuit, local circuits` signal-controlling iucclinnisin. nn eioctrwinngnctic lock therefor iitul n rcinriwlgnal mechanism. nii having wlndilign in thc liicni circuito. und it relay provided with a whirling included inthe' niiiln circuit and terminals incitidcil in ilie local circultx with lioth the lock and returnxignnl inochnnliini.

Ztl. A xlgiiiillng nystctii comprising a conducting circuit. idginii-controillng nicchiininin. :i lock= therefor, n return- ..nlgiuii nii-clinnlsni, int-ans coiniiion to lioth ijor'governing thc lock und return-signal mechanism. and means for nullll vliig thc clii-cl of tiiigoverning nicnas upon the returnsignal nicclinnlsni In -ci-ilnlii punitions tlici'coi.

2li). signaling sysiciii comprising a line circuit, local circuits. alcuni-controlling.mechanism an ciectro-|nag iii-tic lock therefor and n rctiirn-xlgnnl uicclinnisni, all iuivliig windings in tlulocal clrcuitx, und a reilly' provided iviili u winding included in the nniln circuit and terminals included in thc iiiciil cli-calin with botii the lock and return-signal nicchiinirui. und willi an armature adapted to completo mori` tiiiin oneol wild local circuits.

llnc having Itationl provided willi lt'cyn in said line and local circuits associati-ti therewith. au electro-magnetic circuibcoiitroliiiig niccluinisni included in each local circultniid iuiviiig ii movable contact operating member and n plurality oi' rclntlvely ilxctl coiictlng' contact tit-vlees. a licll circuit conncclcti with one of the llxcd contact dc' vict-s. nud a semaphore circuit connected with another ilxctl`contact device.

33. telegraph l vstcin comprising a iiiniii line having ntntionn provided with keys and line relays, local circuits governed by thtl relays, signals associated willi said lociil .circui'ti, :ind'a controlling mechanism for eacli signal nii-nini associati-d willi the return-signal mechanism forlos A train ticspiitciilng nyxtclacompriiilng a telegraph,

rotatable step by step and continually in one direction upon the opening and. closing ot the line by a key.

34. A tpiegrsph system comprising a lnnin lille having stations provided with keys and line relays. local circuits governed by the relays, signals associated with said local circuits, and e. controlling mechanism for cach signal rotatable step by step and continually in one direction upon the opening and closing ot the lino by a key, and .each having s. plurality ot signal-controlling contacts, ail ot. which are closed when said line is open.

lili. A -teiegraph system comprising a main line having stations provided with keys and line relays, local circuits governed by the relays, signals associated with said local circuits and s. controlling mechanism for cach signal rotatable step by step and continually in one direction upon the opening and closing of the liuc by a key, each of said controlling mechanisms being provided with a rotatable contact operating member and a companion contact diilerentiy situated at each of the stations.

30. A telegraph system comprising n main liuc having stations provided with keys and line relays. local circuits governed by the relays, signals associated with said local circuits, n controlling mechanism for each signal rotatable step b v utep and continually in one direction upon thc opening and closing ot the line by a key, each of said con trolling mechanisms being provided with a rotatable contact operating member and n companion contact diiferenily situated at escl: of the atltions. and lul independent contact device for each controlling mechanism.

37. A telegraph system comprbdug a main line having stations provided with keys and line relays. local clrcuiia governed by the relays, signals associated with xald local circuits, a controlling mechanism ior each signal rotatable xtep by step and continually in one direction upon the opening and closing ol the lint by a key, each ot' .wald controlling mechanisms being provided `with a roiatabb` contact operating member and a companion contact lith-rentiy situated at each of thc stations. lill under the inihlence ot'the rotatable luombcr being ola-vaille oncel i'or each compieterotntion, and a o-cond sot or contacto operable for nach step ol the controlling nlochanism.

lndopolnicnt coutact device for each controlling incl-implant, lilo contat-ts und lino relays nt iin.` iti- I I liti. A train despatchlng system comprising a mala line having stations, one of which is appropriated -to the use of the train despatcher, keys and line relays at the sia- I tions, local circuits governed by the relays, signals assoelated with the local circuits at a plurality ol.' tin.- stations,

controiilng mechanism tor each signal, returns-.igual mecill anisln dissociated with each controlling mechanism, and

means situated at the t'raln despatchers station only for I permitting thc sending out of a-returu signal.

40. .i train dexpatching system comprising a'. main line having mations. onc of which is appropriated to the use of tile train despatchcr. keys and line relays at the stations, local circuits governed by tbc relays. signals associated with the local circuits at a plurality of the stations, pri mary signal-controlling mechanism responsive to the key of the train despatcilcr, and motor-driven controlling meeh- :lnism released by the prinmry controlling mechanism and serving to operate tile signal.

4l. railway signaling s lem compl-loing a conducting lille provided with a plurality of stations, controlling mechanism at a station included in a local circuit, relailvciyzixed signale operable h v the controlling mechanism, and electro-magnetic mechanism movable with trains -and being dependent Ior its operation llpoll the closure of said local circuit hy the controlling mechanism.

42. railway signaling system comprising a conducting lille provided with a plurality at stations, controlling mechanism at n station included lll a local circuit, relatively iixed signals operable thereby. contact rails associatrti n'iih ihc signals and boing connected with ille local circuit at a station. continnailons of said station circuit situated upon a train. :l local train circuit governed by the combined station and track circuit. andan electromagnetic mechanism ill ille local train circuit.

43. A railway signaling system comprising a conducting iinll provided with a plurality oi' stations. controlling mechanism at one station included ill :l local lcitcnit, rclalively tixcd rdgnaix olwrable thereby. contact rails asso- 5 elated n'iil'i the signals alid boina: conm-cicli with the local circuit at li fduilon. contlnnatlons oi vaid `tation circuit l situated npui a train. contactsl ill thc controlling mot-inno lam included in iincombined siutou and train. and ell-cito-magnetic mechanism associated with said combined cirenit and governed in tinl contacts. l

ill testimony win-root' i have ailixed my signature, in I prt-sence ol' two witnesses. 

